I have a 40 gal ruud gas h/w tank the pressure release valve on top is attached to a long verticle copper pipe, wich is constantly dripping, the drip becomes a leak after hot water is used anywhere in the house. Tried opening up all faucets to release pressure. This did not work. Any suggestions?

Depending on the age of your tank it is more than likely time to change your pressure relief valve. In addition, it would be wise to flush your hot water tank in the process.

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Originally Posted by Morrowrj

Depending on the age of your tank it is more than likely time to change your pressure relief valve. In addition, it would be wise to flush your hot water tank in the process.

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The hot water tank is 6mo. Old the problem started when the city increased the water pressure. Thank you for the quick response!

Do you have a back flow preventer and if so, an expansion tank? The city may have added one when they increased the pressure. When you use hot water, it is replaced by cold, which expands as it heats and the excess has to go somewhere. In the past, no problem as water was free to flow out the water meter. Many places now require a back flow preventer stopping the water from going back out the inlet. It has to go somewhere. It will go out the pressure relief valve if nowhere else is available. Once it has tripped the relief valve a few time, it may collect some dirt and never reseal. Taking it off and cleaning might work, but a new one would be better. However, it the water still doesn't have any place to go, you haven't fixed the problem, just treated a symptom. The solution is an expansion tank. It has water in the bottom, and air in the top. The air compresses as water flows back out into the expansion tank. The air expands when you draw hot water.

A 6 month old pressure relief valve should not need routine replacement.

The tank is 6mos old. Any way to adjust the valve? I don't have an owners manuel and can't find one on line. Prior owner installed it.

Even if it was adjustable, you wouldn't have any way of checking what pressure you were setting it for. Even opening it and letting some water out might flush out the dirt in it allowing it to reseal.

You really need to check for a back flow preventer and add an expansion tank if there is one. Otherwise, the problem will continue.